Air traffic control training online – HAMK’s transportation students get to try a unique, new form of education
Air traffic control training has traditionally been done in classrooms and physical simulators, but the air traffic control training provider Lektor Consulting has created a new air traffic control simulator and learning platform that operates fully online. Häme University of Applied Sciences’ School of Professional Teacher Education has contributed pedagogical expertise to the development process, and HAMK’s students in Traffic and Transportation Management Degree Programme will be the first to test the new training solution.
Since 2020, Lektor Consulting Resources Finland has offered air traffic control training as well as training for air traffic control instructors and assessors primarily in Europe. The company’s new T3 air traffic control simulator operates in a web browser on both computers and mobile devices.
“Lektor is the first training provider globally to bring air traffic control basic training online. This way, students or anyone interested in the subject can use the simulator flexibly at their own pace,” says Samuli Suokas, founder of Lektor Consulting Finland.
This method, which is independent of the trainer and simulator availability, lowers the threshold for students to practice and enables an unlimited number of practice hours.
HAMK brings a pedagogical perspective
Anne-Maria Korhonen, a Principal Research Scientist at Häme University of Applied Sciences’ School of Professional Teacher Education, has guided the pedagogical thinking of Lektor’s air traffic control trainers for the past six months from various educational perspectives to make the learning process as diverse and appropriate as possible. Game-based learning as a modern form of learning has been integrated into the learning process to support learning and student success.
“We are living in the age of online learning. It provides an opportunity to participate in studies regardless of time and place. A pedagogically well-designed process promotes learning and motivates students to study,” says Korhonen.
The first pilot of air traffic control online learning will be carried out for HAMK’s transportation engineering students in April-May 2023. Some have already signed up, but there is still room for more. Lektor is particularly interested in hearing feedback from participating students.